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Difference Between NA and Turbo Valves??

6.8K views 21 replies 15 participants last post by  NoDestiny  
#1 ·
Is there anyway i can tell if my head has valves suitable for the Turbocharged motor? I picked up a very nice rebuilt 287 head which the seller claimed was ready for either a turbo or none turbo motor, but he was also "The Salesman". Donovan says u cannot use NA valves or theyll be dead in weeks, so im worried.

Are there any obvious differences? or should i find $19.00 per valve to get replacements?
Thnx, Mark
 
#2 ·
I don't know too much about the valves, but i would get new ones just to be safe.
 
#5 ·
intake valves are the same, its the exhaust valves that will melt down quicker if not meant for a turbo engine... The exhaust valve's dont have the "T" the intake on the other hand does... Atleast the one's on my desk are like this which I dont understand as the exhaust valve should be marked for 100% assurance a person is using the correct valve...
 
#6 ·
A turbo head should be stamped TS on the end opposite the cam gear. Ive used n/a valves on a turbo and the valve faces do burn up quicker but mine went 5000 miles and probobly would have went plenty farther had it not beeen for other problems but I dont reccomend it unless it you just need to get by for a while thats the only reason I did it
 
#7 ·
jim is right, especially with his use of the word "should"

you may have a TS stamp but it may have been rebuilt with NA exh valves

you may not have a TS stamp and it may have T valves...

btw TS = tapered shroud ; a little extra machining in the combustion chambers to "unshroud" the valves in heads destined for turbo use

won't the T exh valves have a SS head and therefore not magnetic ?? I will try to remember to check my NA exh valves and T exh valves to see ...
 
#13 ·
cool that backs up what I suspected / heard ; you should find that the stem *is* magnetic; the manufaturer actually welds a SS valve head onto a steel stem... crazy.. but apparently works

but I guess I still need to check my NA exh valves to make sure they *are* magnetic, then that will close the circle and give us all a quick way to check whether we have T or NA exh valves ..
 
#12 ·
Thnk u for the replies, The Mopar book says that they are all whatever iron alloy except the Turbo Exhaust vavles have a higher nickel content. Ill give the magnet jobby a shot, but im pretty sure that there is no T on them. I have found a race shop that sells SS valves for right aound $10, just the lengths are a lil strange, close to G head vs Swirl .

THnx, Mark
 
#15 ·
Just checked some valves I have. I have 2 known turbo swirl heads, and a N/A G head. The one swirl turbo head has a T on the exhaust valves only, the other turbo swirl has nothing. Both of them have magnetic intake valves, magnet does not stick to the exhaust valve at all.
Now the N/A valves, the intakes are the same, very magnetic. The exhausts, somewhat magnetic. It's barely enough to hold the valve up in the air, after a few seconds the valve dropped off the magnet. But if I put the magnet halfway up the stem, no problem it holds strong just like the turbo valves.
Intake valves are the same between turbo and non turbo. The exhausts, turbo valves not magnetic at all, N/A valves slightly magnetic but not as much as the intakes.
 
#16 ·
The reason the turbo exhast valves are not magnetic are because they are that they are made of stellite. The stellite is more resistant to the heat. Now if you have the valve out of the car the upper half will be magnetic but the lower half will not. If you have the valve all cleaned up you can actually see where they spin welded the halfs together.
 
#18 ·
doesn't look like it worked out too good